Watch the Clouds!

Clouds. For some reason, clouds are amazing to me. I don’t really know how they are made or why we need them, or what they do, other than dump rain on us when they are full of moisture. I suppose that is a subject for a scientist, or someone who specializes in cloud formations, etc. But for me, I just like ‘em.

I used to daydream about living near a hill with a single huge oak tree on top. On a sunny, warm spring day, I would hike to the top of the hill (which of course had no bugs, weeds, or rocks to stumble over—just soft, lush green grass) and lie beneath that beautiful tree just watching the clouds float by. I could imagine fluffy ones in the shapes of rabbits, dogs, lions, hearts, and other such fanciful things. I could imagine stories revolving around each of the images I saw created by the clouds and as the wind blew them away, the images and the stories would evolve into ever more creative tales.

Although I don’t remember a single story that I made up about the cloud images off hand, I do remember thinking that the hill top and that tree and the clouds were my “happy place”. I was at peace, in a very tranquil, warm and inviting location created just for me, and whoever I might like to bring along. I rarely ever did imagine taking anyone with me though, for every time I went there it was “me” time; time for me to sit and think and meditate and enjoy God’s creation.

Often wishing I could go there for real, I still imagine that maybe God has such a place in Heaven that He is preparing for me to be at peace from the world I will eventually leave behind. All the cares, sorrows and grief we often endure here, will be no more. No more tears, no crying, no pain, no sorrow. That really sounds great, doesn’t it?

Now, here’s the big “But”. Unfortunately, we have no knowledge of when we will be leaving this world. So, in the meantime, God has a plan to give us the peace we all long for. That plan, unusual as it seems, was to send His Son, Jesus, to earth to take our sin and its’ punishment, and provision for

our healing and restoration, on Himself so that we could enjoy His Eternal Peace in this life, even before we get to our Heavenly Homes! Even though I would love to spend time underneath that big oak tree watching the clouds go by, I can enjoy His peace right in the middle of the chaos that is my world.

The most important thing to remember, though, is that we must receive Jesus into our hearts and lives and believe that His sacrifice is a finished work on our behalf. And, then share our faith with others to “seal the deal”.

When the time is right and God has determined “enough is enough”, Jesus will return to this earth with “a loud cry of summons” and other tremendous fanfare, initiating a catching away of all of us, living and dead in Christ, to meet Him in the clouds, to be with Him forever. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) So, I guess it’s not so bad to watch the clouds after all! One day, we’ll go through them to meet our Savior!